Bendigo Pioneers talents Jobe Shanahan and James Barrat have done what every footy player dreams of, getting drafted into the AFL.
Projected as among the top talents in this year’s draft, Shanahan and Barrat were selected as the number 30 and 32 picks, respectively.
Shanahan heads west as he links up with countrymen Harley Reid and Noah Long at the West Coast Eagles, while Barrat will join Pioneers teammate and eighth pick Tobie Travaglia at St Kilda.
Ranked as the 19th best prospect by Fox Sports, Shanahan was snubbed in the first round of the draft, but was only made to wait less than half an hour of the second night of the AFL Draft on Thursday to hear his name called.
The tall forward, when not playing for the Pioneers, took to the field with Moama in the senior side.
Shanahan also got the opportunity to play three VFL games for Essendon this year, in which he kicked a staggering 11 goals.
“He had a wonderful year in my view,” AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan said on Fox Sports’ draft coverage.
“One of the best contested marks we’ve got in the draft.
“(At) 195cm, I think there’s still a couple of centimetres growth in him, he’s got that body type that I reckon will grow a wee bit more.
“The improvement is enormous from boys from the bush.
“When you’re at Moama, coming down to Bendigo, might only be down there once a week or so, so there will be tremendous football development in him in his next 12 months.”
Meanwhile, Barrat, a Leitchville-Gunbower product and the Bendigo Pioneers best-and-fairest for 2024, was ecstatic to hear his name called at pick 32.
“It’s the best thing ever,” he said.
“I had really good advice from my manager and from the Pies coach ... but I didn’t believe until it happened.
“I’ve never really been able to tell myself, no matter what happened or how good I was looking, that the draft was a chance.
“I just hoped for the best.”
Much like Shanahan, Barrat also played for Essendon’s VFL side late in the season, taking the field against Sandringham.
“A competitive key position player comfortable at either end of the ground, who possesses the mongrel required to make it at the next level sooner rather than later – despite being undersized,” Rookie Me Central scout Adrian Dixon said of Barrat.
Barrat will be heading to the Saints with fellow Bendigo Pioneers draftee and good friend Travaglia.
Despite having his Year 12 graduation, Travaglia made a beeline to see Barrat after his name was announced.
“The day before I said there might be a little chance to go to St Kilda and he was ecstatic,” Barrat said.
“He came over about 20 minutes after I was drafted.
“It was just the best feeling, it was so cool.”
After an injury-ridden 2023 season, Barrat made a strong recovery in 2024, making four appearances for the under-18 boys Vic Country side and 13 for the Pioneers.
“I broke my ankle and I had to have a whole year off,” he said.
“I did as much gym as I could and put on a bit of size ... having a lot of time off, I definitely wasn’t at the fitness level I needed, but my goal was to keep getting by and be consistent.
“I made sure I did all the right things and I was as professional as possible.
“I went flat out for a full year, which gave me the best result I could ask for.”